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How to use NFC?

E

ergalthema

Well-Known Member
While I'm sure there is info here, I tried searching and didn't find any.

I have a GN and supposedly have NFC.

The S3 commercial keeps showing the tap to transfer stuff, but I have no idea how to use it. I tried installing "File Expert" and sending a file with NFC tapping. But when I tapped the phone to a S3, nothing happened. Maybe the S3 needed to have File Expert installed?

I saw that Spotify can share playlists via NFC tap, but I don't use Spotify.

How might I use NFC?
 
I've never used NFC for that, but Did both phones have NFC turned on AND the same program running?
 
Using NFC isn't quite as convenient as you might think. Sure, it's cool, but when it's this much of a hassle... what is the point?

I have a Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus and my wife has a Galaxy S3. I have tried across all of these devices and I CAN transfer, but I'd rather just Bluetooth the file, honestly.

My Wife must remove the case from her S3 before we can use NFC. I have to remove the case from my Nexus 7 before NFC works. I do NOT have to remove the case from my Galaxy Nexus for it to work with any of these devices, however.

In the case of my Nexus I have to run the phone up and down and all over the back of the tablet (which looks hilarious). Trying to show off this "feature" to iPhone users makes you look ridiculous. Once you hit that special spot you have a small window in which you can select what you'd like to send. Then you "beam" the information. Just make sure you have the Beam feature turned on within Android.

When my wife and I try to use NFC I normally have to turn my phone to the side over the spot where her NFC chip is located. When have to hold the devices literally back to back, as even 1/4 of an inch is too far apart for the "connection" to be maintained. We also have to hold still while trying to transfer something. You might as well have whatever you want to share up on the screen to save yourself time and frustration. In the case of pictures, it is still easier to just text them.

While I think NFC is cool, it is way too much of a gimmick in it's current state.

Depending on the file you were trying to send it may have transferred, but you will have to navigate into your file browser and take a quick look for it. I haven't tried to transfer files yet. I've sent music and pictures and a couple documents. In summation, it sounds like you're doing it right. Good luck.
 
With the S3 and the Nexus, you don't need any program for Android Beam to work. You just need to make sure it is turned on in the settings. The previous poster is correct about using the phone with a tablet, its a little cumbersome, trying to find the right spot. It works much better phone to phone. I have done android beam with my wife's RAZR M as well as my coworker's S3 with no issues. Also I have NFC tags which I have programmed to do certain tasks depending where I am. And I love Google Wallet, we have PayPass equipped vending machines at work, and it is very convenient for that.
 
I use NFC for Google Wallet and I bought some NFC tags to mess with. I programmed the tags to put my phone in different modes; work, home, car. Car turns off wifi and turns on bluetooth, for example.

I've never managed to pull off Beaming between my N7 and GNex. Once I do find the sweet spot (which is as difficult and as silly as Dex said), the Beam opens Opera then fails. Opera isn't even set to be the default app for anything. It doesn't really matter since I don't know anyone else with an NFC-enabled Android and beaming crap to myself is likely to get quickly boring. Bluetooth is a much better way to send things between my phone and tablet.
 
The most useful function of the NFC I have found is Google Wallet at gas stations and stuff. Other than that it still needs a while to catch on, I think.
 
I experienced the same difficulty trying to use Android Beam between my Gnex and Nexus 7, but it worked fine beaming a website address from my Gnex to a friend's GS3.

Google Wallet can be convenient, but only when the Paypass terminal actually works, which I've found to be maybe 50/50, based on the places I've tried it (only 10-15 so not exactly a large sample).
 
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